Coin game device



June 28, 1955 D. w. TREssLER 2,711,90

COIN GAME DEVICE Filed DeG. l2, 1952 INVENTOR 2 A .Dua/*7e W Tress/ew ATTORNEHS COIN GAME DEVICE Duane W. Tressler, Greenville, Miss. Application December 12, 1952, Serial No. 325,536 s claims. (cran- 138) This invention relates to game apparatus, and more particularly to an improved amusement device employing coins or the like.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved coin game device which is simple in construction, which is easy to operate, and which provides `fa high degree of entertainment and recreation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved amusement device which is employed with coins or similar circular elements, the game device being inexpensive to manufacture, being sturdy in construction, and involving a high degree or" skill in the propulsion of the coins through the device, whereby a player derives a considerable degree of entertainment and satisfaction in successfully manipulating his coin successively through the various stages of the device.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a coin game device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional detail View taken through one of the tapered slots in a side wall of the device, showing the manner in which a coin is caught and retained in the smaller end of the tapered slot in a position to be struck inwardly by the player to propel the coin through the device.

Referring to the drawings, the amusement device is designated generally at 11 and comprises a rectangular housing having the horizontal top wall 12, the horizontal bottom wall 13, the rear panel i4, and the transparent front panel l5, the rear panel 14 and the front panel 15 being secured between the respective vertical side walls 16 and i7 of the housing. Secured in the housing parallel to and spaced from the transparent panel 15 is the inner wall ES which is spaced from the transparent panel 15 by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of a coin. The lower ends of the panels 1S and 18 are supported on a transversely extending horizontal strip mem ber 19. Thus the elements 15, 18, 19, 12, 16 and 17 deline a vertical inner housing through which a coin may slide downwardly.

The side wall 16 is formed at its upper portion with a vertical slot 21 through which a coin may be inserted, said slot communicating with the space inside the aforesaid inner housing deiined between the panel 15 and the inner wall element 18. Secured in said space are the respective ramp members 22 to 28, said ramp members being vertically spaced, as shown. The ramp members 22, 24, 26 and 28 extend inwardly from the side wall 16 and terminate substantial distances from the wall member 17, said distances being sutiicient to allow a coin to pass between the ends of the ramp members and the Fatented .lune 23, 1955 wall member 17. Similarly, the ramp members 23, 2.5 and 27 extend inwardly from the wall i7 and terminate substantial distances from the side wall 16, said distances being suiiiciently great to allow a coin to pass between the ends of the ramp members and the side wall 16. The side walls 16 and 17 are formed with respective vertical slots 29, said slots flaring inwardly in height and at their outer ends being slightly smaller in height than the diameter of a coin 30, as shown in Figure 4, whereby a coin will become caught in a slot 29 and be held in said slot with a small portion thereof projecting outside the wall of the device, as illustrated.

As is shown in Figure 4, the slots 29 are located adjacent the respective ends of the ramp members 22 to 2S, and the end portions of the ramp members adjacent said slots are inclined upwardly and inwardly, said slots being similarly inclined, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 4.

At its lower end the side wall 17 of the device is formed with a vertical coin discharge slot 31 through which coins rolling oil the inner portion 32 of the lowermost ramp member 2S may leave the device. As shown, the respective ramp members 22 to 28 are provided with the upwardly concave, coin-trapping portions 34 and the inner vertical wall member 13 is provided with circular openings 35 adjacent said portions 34 through which trapped coins may fall into the rear portion of the main housing and descend to the rectangular bottom member 36 of the device, said bottom member 36 serving as a coin collection receptacle. The hollow bottom member 36 may be detachably secured to the remainder of the main housing in any suitable manner, whereby it may be removed at times for the collection of the coins retained therein.

As shown in Figure 1, certain of the ramp members may be provided with spaced extensions 37 which are separated from the main portions of the ramp members by gaps 38 through which coins may roll downwardly onto a sharply inclined ramp element 39 from which the coin may descend to the next subadjacent ramp member. Similarly, gaps may be provided, as shown at 40, through which a coin may descend and be caught in an upwardly concave trap element di.

In operating the device, the user first inserts a coin through the upper slot 21 in the side wall 16 and allows i it to fall into the tapered slot 29 subadjacent thereto.

The user then strikes the coin sharply with his hand to project the coin inwardly over the ramp member 22. If the operator is successful in projecting the coin over the ramp member 22, the coin drops to the next ramp member 23 and rolls into the tapered slot 29 at the left side of the device. The first insertion of the coin through the slot 21, of course, causes the coin to fall into the first inclined slot 29 immediately subadjacent the slot 21, from which the coin is projected inwardly, as above mentioned, by the operators forcible striking of the coin with his hand. The operator then repeats the procedure at the left side of the device, as viewed in Figure l, causing the coin to be projected along the ramp 23, and

.if the coin is projected successfully over the ramp 23,

the coin drops to the next ramp 24 and rolls into the tapered slot 29 in the wall 16 adjacent the end of ramp 24. The procedure is then repeated. It" the operator is successful in projecting his coin successively over the respective ramps and the coin is thus caused to descend downwardly through the space between the transparent panel 15 and the inner vertical wall 18, the coin finally reaches the inclined lower portion 32 of ramp element 2S and discharges from the device through the exit slot 3l.

While a specific embodiment of an improved coin game device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as dened by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A coin game device comprising a vertical housing having a back wall, a transparent front wall parallel to said back wall, and opposite vertical side walls connecting the back and front walls, a coin collection receptacle disposed below said front and back walls, said side walls being each formed with a plurality of vertically spaced t vertical slots, a plurality of inclined ramp members secured to said back wall between the back wall and the front wall, the ramp members being vertically spaced relative to each other, extending inwardly respectively from points subjacent the respective slots alternately from opposite side walls, and terminating substantial distances from the respective side walls, said baci; wall being formed with coin-receiving apertures along said ramp members communicating with said receptacle, each slot and its associated ramp member being inclined inwardly and upwardly, and the slots flaring inwardly in height to trap a coin with a portion thereof exposed at the side of the housing, and additional inclined ramp members secured to said back wall between the firstnamed members, said ramp members having upwardly 1.,

concave arcuate portions adjacent said apertures to trap coins during their descent between the front and .back walls. y

2. A coin game device comprising a vertical housing having a back wall, a transparent front wall parallel to said back wall and opposite vertical side walls connecting the back and front walls, a coin collection receptacle disposed below said front and back walls, said side walls being each formed witth a plurality of vertically spaced vertical slots, a plurality of inclined ramp members secured to said back wall between the back wall and the front wall, the ramp members being vertically spaced relative to each other, extending inwardly respectively from points subjacent the respective slots alternately from opposite side walls, and terminating substantial ,1f

distances from the respective side walls, said back wall being formed with coin-receiving apertures along said ramp members communicating with said receptacle, each slot and its associated ramp member being inclined inwardly and upwardly, and the slots flaring inwardly in height to trap a coin with a portion thereof exposed at the side of the housing, additional inclined ramp members secured to said back wall between the iirst-named ramp members, said ramp members having upwardly concave arcuate portions adjacent said apertures to trap coins during their descent between the front and back walls, and a top wall connecting the top edges of said front and back walls, the upper portion of one of the side walls being formed with a coin admission slot and the lower portion of one of the side walls being formed with a coin discharge slot.

3. A coin game device comprising a vertical housing having a back wall, a transparent front wall parallel to said back wall and opposite vertical side walls connecting tthe back and front walls, a coin collection receptacle disposed below said front and back walls, said side walls being each formed with a plurality of vertically spaced vertical slots, a plurality of inclined ramp members secured to said back wall between the back wall and the front wall, the ramp members being vertically spaced relative to each other, extending inwardly respectively from points subjacent the respective slots alternately from opposite side walls, and terminating substantial distances from the respective side walls, said back wall being formed with Coin-receiving apertures along said ramp members communicating with said receptacle, and each slot and its associated ramp member being inclined inwardly and upwardly, said ramp members having downwardly concave portions spaced along their lengths, and the slots flaring inwardly in height to trap a coin with a portion thereof exposed to the side of the housing, additional inclined ramp members secured to said back wall between the vfirst-named ramp members, said ramp members having upwardly concave arcuate portions adjacent said apertures to trap coins during their descent between the Vfront and back walls, and a top wall connecting the top edges of said front and back walls, the upper portion of one of the side walls being formed with a coin admission slot and the lower portion of one of the side walls being formed with a coin discharge slot.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 553,078 Smith et al. lan. 14, 1896 1,630,098 Smith May 24, 1927 1,826,215 Hutchison Oct. 6, 1931 1,877,865 Heideman Sept. 20, 1932 1,947,772 Harris Feb. 20, 1934 

